Experienced restaurant operators have learned that having the right Point-of-Sale (POS) system can increase efficiency by tracking transactions in real time, printing guest checks, transmitting orders to the kitchen, processing credit cards, running daily business reports, and more.<\/p>\n
So why do a substantial number of restaurant owners still cling to their cash registers? Cost and complexity are the primary obstacles to choosing a restaurant POS system, but the benefits of these systems for your business can far outweigh the challenges.<\/p>\n
Operators don\u2019t have to spend a lot to install an effective, easy-to-understand, and simple-to-use POS system. Whatever the investment, most restaurants find that a POS system quickly pays for itself through increased cost control and revenue generation.<\/p>\n
The key is to understand that you have many options, and to select the system that best fits your specific needs.<\/p>\n
Offering a low-cost point of entry along with user-friendly technical access, these systems offer a good starting point if you\u2019re transitioning directly from a cash register.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what your POS system can do at this level:<\/p>\n
Track sales per hour and day and see how the data compares with the same hour and day a week, month, or year ago. You can identify your biggest-selling items, the method of payment for each sale, and even the check average per hour, and server.<\/p>\n
Find out exactly which items you sell, and in what quantities for every hour of the day, every day of the year. This feature can help you determine your most profitable, and not-so-profitable items, and ensures you have enough product on hand. It can even help identify waste, theft, and other stock discrepancies. This functionality can often work with an inventory-management solution.<\/p>\n
At this level, you should be able to choose from a variety of standard, e.g. non-customizable, reports that present sales and item-usage data in different formats.<\/p>\n
You should be able to add additional POS capabilities as you need them, without having to invest in a completely new system every time. An entry-level system won\u2019t offer infinite \u201cscale-up\u201d possibilities, but it should certainly offer enough to get you to a mid-level tool set.<\/p>\n
A moderate-cost point of entry, or an easy upgrade for existing entry-level systems, this solution typically offers all, or the majority, of the functionality of an entry-level solution, along with enhanced scalability.<\/p>\n
Tracking labour electronically helps you better control labour costs. You can schedule exactly the amount of labour you need for a particular shift based on historical sales data, and projected sales. Some systems also offer a time clock function that prevents employees from clocking in early, and can be integrated with a payroll solution.<\/p>\n